Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticized the Minister of Works, David Umahi, regarding the cost analysis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project recently approved by President Bola Tinubu. During a public event, Makinde reacted to a heated exchange between Umahi and Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni, where Oseni had pressed Umahi for a detailed cost breakdown of the highway project.
Umahi, asserting his expertise in engineering, dismissed Oseni’s request, claiming that the costs per kilometer are variable and complex. He expressed frustration, stating, “Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You don’t understand anything.”
In response, Makinde supported Oseni’s inquiry, questioning why Umahi was evading the issue. He provided examples from his own experience, citing the costs of roads completed in Oyo State to illustrate that such analyses are feasible and necessary for transparency. “When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road, it was about N9.99 billion for approximately 34 or 35 kilometers,” he noted.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a significant infrastructure project spanning nine states, was announced by the Federal Government last year and aims to enhance connectivity and economic activity in the region. Umahi emphasized the importance of timely delivery by contractors, stating that variations due to delays would not be tolerated once mobilization is complete.
